Star Gazer Books Lesson Plan (B. Restrepo)

These books can be done by students of all ages, depending on how much prepping you do. Young elementary students will need a lot of help with the construction, but they will be able to do the various parts themselves.

Aim(s): To make an interesting and unusual book
To explore materials of your choice on the inside pages
To integrate curriculum, depending on what theme you give your students

Materials:
cardboard squares (precut) just a little bit larger than the quarter-folded inside sheets (ours were 4 1/4");four sheets of nice white or medium to light watercolor paper; white glue in bottles; heavy-duty aluminum foil; pencils; black india ink; watercolors/acrylics/watercolor pencils/colored pencils/sharpie markers/markers/collage materials such as magazines or calendars/rubber stamps, etc.; ribbon or something to make a tie with; Optional: word processed narrative or report to collage in book

Motivation: Pictures and posters of whatever your theme might be

Procedure:

Cover:
Draw a bold image or letter that can be made into a raised glue image (we used initials) on one side of each cardboard square. Draw over the image with glue, letting it bead up. Put aside to dry overnight.
Cover with foil and over edges, "burnishing" it to create a bas-relief.
Brush india ink over the foil and wipe off, giving it a metallic, antique, look.

Insides:
Draw your images on the four pages. (Add the optional copy later, when you know placement.) Color in the materials of your choice. Sponge paint or color the backs, as well. Sometimes patterns look nice on the back, although there's nothing stopping you from having your imagery on both sides, of you can figure out where you are gluing them together ahead of time. (Read on...)
Fold in quarters when dry. Use the handles of scissors for crisp folds if you don't have a boning tool.
Glue one side of the folded page to the next, forming a star. Before gluing the star into your book, lay a ribbon or cord across book and glue or tape it in. The glue the two ends to each cover to form the book.

Reflection: As always, share your work.

Variations: Maureen has made ornaments using smaller pieces of paper and not doing the cover parts of this. You could probably make some interesting thematic mobiles with the stars as well, I would think.